Bakamla: Cooperative, China's Coast Guard No Longer Enters North Natuna

The coordinates of the Indonesian Bakamla Patrol Vessel KN Dana-323 Island and the China 5402 coast guard ship in the North Natuna Sea, Riau Islands, Thursday (24/10/2024). ANTARA/HO-Bakamla RI.

Head of the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) Vice Admiral TNI Irvansyah said China's coast guard ship was cooperative and no longer entered Indonesian jurisdictional waters in the North Natuna Sea.

Irvansyah ensured that so far there has been no activity of the Chinese coast guard ship (CCG) that has endangered the activities of Indonesian ships in the North Natuna Sea.

"Until now there has been no more (the coast guard China ship, ed.)," said Irvansyah as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, November 4.

"Yes, they are cooperative," continued Irvansyah.

Bakamla ships were confirmed, routinely patrolling the North Natuna Sea throughout the year.

Despite the incident of expelling Chinese coast guard vessels last month, Bakamla has long been determined to strengthen its patrol fleet.

Irvansyah said there needs to be an increase in the number of patrol boats in strategic areas.

"We really need to strengthen strategic axes, for example in the Malacca Strait, in North Natuna, in Ambalat," said Head of Bakamla.

He said the incident of expelling a Chinese coast guard ship in the North Natuna Sea last month was the first time that the Bakamla patrol boat had carried out throughout 2024.

"For the whole year, (the incident, ed.) is the first time," he said.

The Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) patrol boat KN Pulau Dana-323 and KN Tanjung Datu last month expelled a coast guard ship for China trying to enter Indonesian jurisdiction waters in the North Natuna Sea, Riau Islands, respectively on October 25, October 24 and October 21.

The coast guard guard of China 5402 was expelled from the waters of Indonesian jurisdiction in the North Natuna Sea because it is believed to have disrupted the survey and processing of seismic data carried out by PT Pertamina using the MV Geo Coral ship.

Bakamla RI will continue to closely monitor activities in the North Natuna Sea to ensure that seismic surveys in the waters run without interruption.

"This operation also reflects Bakamla RI's commitment to maintaining maritime order and security in Indonesia's strategic waters," said Bakamla.

The North Natuna Sea is Indonesian jurisdictional waters in the South China Sea, which is included in Indonesia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). However, China unilaterally claims the waters are included in its jurisdiction based on historical 10-dash-line reasons. The Chinese 10-dash-line claim covers all waters of the South China Sea.